Is terrorism risk insurance coverage necessary?

“While concern over terrorism risk is palpable, information and understanding of terrorism risk insurance is not as well known,” said Skidmore. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The United States is no stranger to acts of terrorism. In recent years, domestic and international events have increased with alarming frequency. More importantly, such events have shown that no area of life is completely risk-free.

Domestically, notable acts of terrorism have occurred on school campuses like Virginia Tech or Sandy Hook Elementary School. Just this month, Las Vegas experienced the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Concern over terrorism risk is clear and definite, but information and understanding of terrorism risk insurance is not as well known. Not-for-profit organization RIMS tackles this subject in its latest report, Terrorism Insurance: Understanding the Boundaries of Coverage for a Risk Without Borders.

“With terrorism risk being an unfortunate reality, corporate risk managers and counsel can take proactive measures to contain a risk that otherwise knows no bounds,” said the author of the report, Micah Skidmore of Haynes and Boone LLP.

Related: Terrorism and political violence call for review of insurance strategy

Terrorism risk is seasonal, with most attacks occurring during the spring and summer months.(Photo: Shutterstock)

Is terrorism risk insurance coverage necessary?

Terrorism risk can be quantified and, to some extent, understood by its relationship to a variety of constantly evolving factors. Historically, domestic terrorism represented a disproportionate risk to property, relative to bodily harm, spread over numerous smaller incidents.

Most attacks occur on a seasonal basis, especially during the spring and summer months. The report also notes there is a greater likelihood of terrorist attacks in the Northeastern region of the U.S. and the coastal states like California and Texas.

Although property damage and bodily injury are the primary risks associated with terrorism, there are other dimensions companies should consider if they’re looking to minimize their exposure, such as:

Fiduciary liability for corporate directors and officers,

Pollution loss and liability,

Professional (E&O) liability,

Employment practices liability,

Business interruption loss, and

Privacy and network security liability.

Even when a company does not independently recognize terrorism risk sufficient to justify an insurance solution, some form of terrorism coverage may nonetheless be required by contract — including lending agreements.

Related: Chubb increases terrorism, political violence and war insurance capacity

Traditional policies, including commercial general liability and property policies, may provide some coverage for terrorism risk if not expressly excluded. (Photo: Shutterstock)

What insurance solutions are available to address terrorism risk?

What terrorism insurance solutions are available to corporate risk managers? A significant market capacity exists for domestic terrorism coverage in two different forms: traditional first- and third-party policies, and so-called stand-alone terrorism risk insurance. Traditional policies, including commercial general liability and property policies, may provide some coverage for terrorism risk if not expressly excluded.

Workers’ compensation insurance — a state-regulated line of coverage compulsory in nearly every state — is another traditional policy that may provide some form of terrorism coverage. Unlike other property & casualty policies, workers’ compensation policies do not have terrorism (or war) exclusions.

Related: 6 tips for helping employees get through a terrorist attack

To the extent that terrorism risk is excluded or unavailable under traditional policies, a corporate policyholder may consider purchasing stand-alone terrorism insurance. Stand-alone terrorism policies, however, provide a wide a variety of terms — some offering broad coverage, others very little.

They also typically exclude political risks, including loss resulting from strikes, riots, civil commotion, rebellion, revolution, war and insurrection. Cyber-related loss and liability, as well as nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological hazards such as anthrax, are also commonly excluded.

Related: Protests, riots, and loss of business income

In a large-scale terrorism event, disputes have developed and may continue to arise over what qualifies as a separate “occurrence.” (Photo: Shutterstock)

What should corporate policyholders look for in placing stand-alone terrorism coverage?

If a stand-alone terrorism policy is the preferred method of addressing terrorism risk, selecting the policy with the best terms involves more than just ensuring that coverage extends beyond “certified acts of terrorism.” Brokers and policyholders should carefully review the valuation terms in stand-alone terrorism policies to ensure that such terms appropriately compensate the insureds for loss and damage, even when actual repair or replacement may not be possible or optimal.

In a large-scale terrorism event, disputes have developed and may continue to arise over what qualifies as a separate “occurrence,” justifying either the application of separate limits or the accrual of a separate deductible or retention. To avoid such controversy and afford a measure of certainty to policyholders and insurers alike, some considerations should be given to including specific terms defining what constitutes an “occurrence” and how the number of occurrences associated with a given claim will be determined.

The “act of terrorism” may, directly or indirectly, prompt a release of hazardous substances. (Photo: Shutterstock)

What other policy terms justify special consideration in a terrorism risk insurance policy?

Expediting expense: The costs incurred to sustain operations or expedite repairs in the wake of a terrorism incident may vary substantially from any other casualty loss. Expansion of insuring terms beyond “reasonable and necessary” costs to include items such as security or healthcare-related expense may be appropriate.

Increased cost of construction: A terrorism incident may itself prompt legislative or other practical requirements that have the effect of increasing the cost of demolition and compliant repair.

Pollution exclusion: The “act of terrorism” may, directly or indirectly, prompt a release of hazardous substances, which increases the cost of the claim. Policies should not exclude the cost associated with a release of “pollutants” that is an indirect result of an otherwise covered “act of terrorism.”

Sue and labor: What is reasonable to protect, recover or save insured property after a general casualty loss may be very different from what is appropriate following as an act of terrorism. To avoid disputes, language in “sue and labor” provisions should be tailored accordingly.

Terrorism risk insurance, whether through traditional or stand-alone policies, is an increasingly important element of domestic corporate insurance programs. To that end, risk managers, agents, brokers and corporate counsel should review corporate exposure to risk, existing policies and contracts to determine whether terrorism risk insurance is necessary to protect the business or fulfill contractual obligations.